French Swear Words
The French, not unlike their English-speaking friends, use quite a lot of swear words. French swear words don't denote only anger or frustration, but are used to express a whole range of expressions, from surprise to sadness, excitement or even pure joy.
One very convenient and popular French swear word is the famous Putain !, understandably not taught at school by French teachers, but used in almost every sentence by French speakers, in every region of France!
Foreigners who come to visit France are often surprised to hear this unknown word all the time. Putain is literally an old colloquial word for "prostitute," and is used to express almost anything.
You will hear French people say Putain ! when dropping something on the floor; when their favorite football team misses an easy goal; to welcome a friend paying an unexpected visit; when they are hot; when they are cold; when they can't remember what they had to do, etc.
How to say French Swear Words
Here are some of the most basic French swear words to get you started. Further on in this lesson we will look at the pronunciation of these and more French swear words.
- Putain ! "F..k!"
- Merde ! "Shit!"
- Putain de merde ! "F..king shit!"
- Bordel de merde ! "For f..k's sake!"
- Putain de bordel de merde ! "For f..k's sake, f..k!"
- Je m'en fous "I don't give a f..k"
- Va te faire foutre ! "Go f..k yourself!"
- Il fait chaud ici, enculé ! "F..k, it's hot here!"
- Il me fait chier ! "He pisses me off!"
- Je me fais chier ici. "I'm bored shitless here."
Let's get started...
Important! Perfect Your Pronunciation With Rocket Record
Important! Remember What You Learn
These expressions are also very common; they are not only used by young punks, but are also sometimes heard in lively professional meetings, when things get tense! One swear word that sounds very vulgar is actually so common in some regions that it has lost some of its rudeness: the word enculé, which literally describes "someone who received a..l sex," can be used as an insult, but also just as a way of showing surprise, discomfort or excitement, pretty much like putain, especially in the south of France:
Ready to Start Learning French?
French people of every age or social category like to use swear words, and it is not always considered very rude. It is for example not uncommon to hear putain or merde on French TV, even if TV presenters or politicians try to avoid these words as much as possible!
For more lessons on French words, make sure you check out this lesson on French travel words and phrases, as well as this one on the most common French words.
À bientôt !
Marie-Claire Rivière and the Rocket French Team